CALIFORNIA CITRUS CULTURE. 



23 



CARE OF THE YOUNG CITRUS ORCHARD. 



Humus is very essential to the best growth and vigor of our trees. 

 Therefore, a good application of well-rotted stable fertilizer will be 

 welcomed by the young trees even the first year. The trees must never 

 feel the lack of abundant moisture. At first basins about the trees 

 for irrigating are allowable, but furrows, even in the young orchard, 

 are usually the cheapest and the best. In any case the water should 

 not touch the tree trunks, and the irrigation should be deep, then the 

 roots will go down deeply, where they always should be. We often 

 talk of trees as being deep or shallow rooting, but are not these condi- 

 tions the results of our special methods? The roots will go where the 

 water or moisture is. The elms in the eastern swamps are very shallow 

 rooting. I have grow r n them here in California, and found the roots 

 deep in the soil. Surface irrigation invites the roots to the surface, 

 while if the water is placed deep down the roots are impelled to push 

 down to secure it. Shallow rooting trees in an arid soil will always 

 suffer in times of drought; while trees with roots deep in the soil will 

 usually suffer not at all. I have trees that I have set and cared for for 



FIG. 13. Orange trees pruned high. (After Lelong. ) 



fourteen years, always irrigating in deep basins or furrows, and now, 

 when I plow deeply in fall or spring, the roots are never harmed. In 

 clay ground it is well to plow deeply, and one can do so safely where 

 the roots are beyond harm's way. I repeat, the roots should be kept 

 down, but if, from improper cultivation and irrigation, this has not 

 been done, the wrong may be righted by plowing each succeeding fall 

 and spring a little deeper. Such a course is certainly wise. I urge 



